Glossary of Nautical Terms

AFT: Nautical term describing the rear of a ship.

AMIDSHIP: Nautical term describing the middle of a ship.

ASTERN: Nautical term for behind the ship, beyond the stern.

BEARING: Nautical term describing the compass direction from the ship to another object or location.

BERTH: Nautical term describing a ship's place at a Wharf. Also a sleeping place on board.

BILGE: Nautical term describing the lower inside hull of a ship, up to the point where the sides become vertical.

BOAT DECK: Nautical term describing the deck of a ship on which the lifeboats are carried.

BOILER: Nautical term describing a furnace used to boil water to create the steam to turn the turbine.

BOLLARDS: Nautical term describing metal posts on a ship or dock to which the mooring lines are tied.

BOW: Nautical term describing the front end of a ship.

BRIDGE: Nautical term describing a raised platform or structure toward the front of the ship which has clear open view ahead. From here the ship is controlled and navigated.

BULKHEAD: Nautical term describing an upright partition dividing a ship's cabins or watertight compartments.

CAPSTAN: Nautical term describing an upright, revolving barrel mounted at the stern of the ship for ropes to be tied around it.

CAST OFF: Nautical term describing the release of ropes prior to departure.

COLLAPSIBLE: Nautical term describing a boat made with canvas sides allowing it to be stored easily.

COURSE: Nautical term describing the ship's direction (in degrees).

CROW'S NEST: Nautical term describing a lookout platform high on a ship's mast.

DAVITS: Nautical term describing cranes used to lower and hold lifeboats.

DEBRIS FIELD: Nautical term describing an area in which items and objects are found from the main wreck site.

DECKHOUSE: Nautical term describing a room built on a ship's Deck.

DISEMBARK: Nautical term for leaving the ship or going ashore.

DISPLACEMENT: Amount of water displaced by a ship immersed in it.

DOCK: Nautical term describing the act of bringing the ship alongside the dock, i.e. quay, berth or pier.

DRY-DOCK: Nautical term describing a basin where water has been pumped out to allow for shipbuilding or repairs.

EMBARK: Nautical term for entering or coming on board a ship.

FLANKS: Nautical term describing a the sides of a ship.

FORECASTLE: Nautical term describing a short raised deck at the bow.

FORWARD: Nautical term describing the front end of a ship.

HELM: Nautical term describing the tiller or ship's wheel.

HMS: Nautical term describing His or Her Majesty's Ship - only found in names of British Royal Navy vessels.

HOLD: Nautical term describing a storage space usually found at the bottom of a ship.

HULL: Nautical term describing the perimeter frame of the ship.

KEEL: Nautical term describing a steel line of metal plates running lengthwise along the middle of the bottom of a ship - like a spine.

KNOT: Nautical term describing a unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile per hour or 6,080ft per hour.

MAIDEN VOYAGE: Nautical term describing a ship's first official cruise.

MANIFEST: Nautical term describing a list of passengers, crew or cargo.

MIDSHIP: Nautical term describing the middle part of a ship.

MORSE CODE: Nautical term describing a code devised by Samuel Morse consisting of dots and dashes representing the different letters of the alphabet so that messages can be sent wireless radio.

NAUTICAL MILE: Approximately 1.15 of a statute mile (6,080ft/1,870m).

OPEN SEATING: Nautical term describing the ability for passengers to dine at any unoccupied table at any time during the restaurant opening hours (as opposed to an assigned table and dining time).

ORLOP: Nautical term describing the lowest deck of a ship with three or more decks.

PAX: Nautical term describing an abbreviation for passengers.

PITCH: Nautical term describing To rise and fall of a ship, especially in rough seas.

PORT: Nautical term describing the left-hand side of a ship.

PORTHOLE: Nautical term describing a circular or round ship's window.

PORT CHARGES: Nautical term describing passenger charges and taxes which must be paid to government authorities in ports; these are normally included in the price of the cruise.

P.O.S.H: Nautical term describing an acronym for 'Port Out', Starboard Home', generally the more expensive cabin allocations on the England-India route.

REPOSITIONING CRUISE: Nautical term describing the itinerary taking the ship from one season's route to another.

RUSTICLES: Nautical term describing very fragile reddish-brown stalactites of rust, hanging down from the edge of ships.

SCREW(S): Nautical term describing the Ship's propeller(s).

SITTING: Nautical term describing the assigned passenger dining time i.e. main (earlier) or second (later) sitting.

SOS: Nautical term describing a general call for help used by a ship's radio operator when sending Morse code. The signal could easily be recognized because the code is 3 dots 3 dashes and 3 dots.

STARBOARD: Nautical term describing the right hand side of a ship.

STEERAGE: Nautical term describing the part of the ship allocated to passengers traveling at the cheapest rate of fare.

STERN: Nautical term describing the rear of a ship

STEWARD: Nautical term describing a crew member responsible for the passengers accommodations and food supplies.

TRIPLE-SCREW: Nautical term describing a ship with three propellers.

WHEELHOUSE: Nautical term describing a small covered area on the bridge where the ship's wheel is found.

UNDERWAY: Nautical term describing when the ship is about to depart.

WAKE: Nautical term describing the trail of disturbed water behind a moving ship.

WATCH: Nautical term describing the period (usually of 4 hours) spent on duty, not just watching.

WIRELESS: Nautical term describing an early form of radio.